Brick Sketches are a relatively new LEGO theme that debuted in 2020, based on a popular series of builds by LEGO designer Chris McVeigh, from back when he was just a humble fan. Brick Sketches blend 3D sculpture and 2D art to create brick-built portraits of popular characters suitable for hanging on your wall. So far, LEGO has officially released Brick Sketches for only three of its IP licenses – Star Wars, Disney, and DC Comics. But Marvel joins in the fun this April 1st with the release of the 200-piece 40535 Iron Man US $16.99 | CAN $19.99 | UK £14.99 and the 214-piece 40536 Miles Morales US $16.99 | CAN $19.99 | UK £14.99. But will these sets draw you in? Or are they kind of sketchy?

The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with early copies of these sets for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.

Unboxing the parts and instructions

Both sets come in packaging that fits the formula of previous Brick Sketches. The completed models are prominently featured against a diagonal white stripe that evokes a stroke of paint. Marvel and character logos are centered at the bottom of the box. Interestingly, although set 40536 is labeled as “Miles Morales” in LEGO’s official communication, our provided review copy features only the Spider-Man logo with no mention of Miles’ real name.

The back of the boxes show the sets “in action,” as it were: hanging on a wall or displayed standing on a shelf.

Inside each box is a manual and four unnumbered bags of parts. Neither set contains any new parts or colors worth noting, but they both have a nice variety of wedge plates and various tiles that builders might find appealing for fueling their own creations.

The build

I found the building of these sets to be surprisingly enjoyable. Each set starts with the construction of a 16×12 base, and layers are built up on top of that to create detail and shape the character portrait. It reminded me a bit of 3D printing. If you’ve ever seen one of those machines in action, you’ll know what I mean.

Although Brick Sketches might feel similar to BrickHeadz in terms of how they fit in the market, there’s a lot more variety in the construction from one Brick Sketch to the next than you find between BrickHeadz. Once the 16×12 base is built, Iron Man relies a lot more on Studs Not On Top techniques to create his iconic helmet shape, whereas Miles uses more jumper tiles and hinge work to shape his mask and hoodie. There’s even a clever use of clips and bars to create the subtle bulge of his nose under the mask.

It’s also worth noting that you may be thrown off in your Iron Man build thanks to a mistake in LEGO’s instructions. Between steps 48 and 49, Iron Man suddenly gains a mysterious wedge plate on his chin, which is gone again on step 50. But don’t worry, the final steps of the manual show the correct way to complete the chin as intended.

The final model

The final Iron Man is instantly recognizable and effective. At this point, his dark red and yellow helmet has become as iconic as any superhero’s mask or cowl. Little details like the way his eyes are sandwiched between blue plates convey a sense of energy and life. Miles is also effective, although a touch less accurate. The eyes of Miles’ mask are usually outlined in red, as an inverse of Peter’s mask colors. That outline isn’t present here, and there would be a danger of him looking a touch too much like the spider-foe Venom if not for the hoodie that frames his head. Dark red is used on the inside to create a sense of shadow within the hood, and two rounded 1×2 plates hang down like the ends of drawstrings to really sell the look.

The back of each model makes use of the standard Brick Sketches frame design. A jointed arm can be extended to lean the model back on. This allows it to free stand on your desk or a shelf. There’s also a coupling plate that allows the models to be hung on a small nail or similar, if you prefer your artwork on a wall.

Conclusion and recommendation

This was my first experience with Brick Sketches, and I found myself incredibly charmed by these sets. Not only are the builds interesting, but the final models look great in hand. These are a wonderful way to add a pop of personality to your living room or let your geek flag fly in an office or cubicle without taking up too much space. Also, at just about 9 cents a brick, they’re pretty decent parts packs. And, because it’s a newer theme, if you really love them, you can fall down into the rabbit hole and grab the whole collection without much effort and investment.

40535 Iron Man contains 200 pieces and will be available starting April 1 from the LEGO shop online for US $16.99 | CAN $19.99 | UK £14.99. It may also be available on Amazon and eBay.

40536 Miles Morales contains 214 pieces and will be available starting April 1 from the LEGO shop online for US $16.99 | CAN $19.99 | UK £14.99. It may also be available on Amazon and eBay.

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The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with early copies of these sets for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.